Linked Stretching Hoods for Dip Coating Film Uniformity
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Solution Overview
Problem
The dip coating method for producing electrophotographic photosensitive members often results in irregularities in the coating film due to varying solvent vapor states around the members, especially when using multiple stretching hoods that can interfere with each other, leading to differences in drying conditions and electrophotographic characteristics.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus with plural stretching hoods that can individually cover each side of the members to be coated, linked at the lower parts to prevent interference and maintain consistent solvent vapor conditions, ensuring uniform coating film formation across multiple members.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If plural stretching hoods are provided to individually cover each side of the plural members to be coated, then the coating film uniformity can be improved, but the device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple stretching hoods are linked together at their lower ends to form a unified structure that moves as a single unit. This merging approach maintains the individual coverage capability for each member while reducing the overall system complexity and preventing interference between adjacent hoods during extension and contraction operations.
2Productivity
If stretching hoods are disposed in limited space to cover multiple members, then the productivity is improved, but the hoods may interfere with each other causing difference in solvent vapor state
Solution Approach 1:
The stretching hoods are merged at their lower ends through linking members, allowing them to be disposed in limited space without interfering with each other. The linking structure ensures synchronized movement of all hoods, maintaining consistent solvent vapor conditions around each member during the coating process.
Solution Approach 2:
Linking members serve as intermediaries between adjacent stretching hoods at their lower ends. These intermediaries transmit movement forces and maintain proper spacing, preventing direct interference between hoods while enabling coordinated operation in a compact space.
3Productivity
If stretching hoods are extended and contracted repeatedly, then the coating process can be completed efficiently, but difference among the stretching hoods may result in individual difference in electrophotographic characteristics
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the lower ends of multiple stretching hoods through linking members, the system ensures that all hoods extend and contract in unison. This synchronized movement eliminates individual differences in hood behavior during repeated operations, maintaining consistent coating and drying conditions for all members.
Solution Approach 2:
The linking structure at the lower ends of the stretching hoods creates an equipotential system where all hoods experience the same mechanical conditions during extension and contraction. This ensures uniform solvent vapor states and drying conditions across all members, eliminating individual differences in electrophotographic characteristics.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively suppresses nonuniformity in the coating film and individual differences in electrophotographic photosensitive members, enhancing the consistency and quality of the produced electrophotographic photosensitive members.
Implementation Method 1
these hoods are constructed as stretching hoods so that the hoods can extend in association with the movement of the member to be coated when the member to be coated is lifted up
Implementation Method 2
The dip coating method is a method containing steps of dipping a member to be coated in a coating liquid for photosensitive layer or the like placed in a coating bath
Implementation Method 3
The dip coating method is a method containing steps of dipping a member to be coated in a coating liquid for photosensitive layer or the like placed in a coating bath
Implementation Method 4
the state of the solvent vapor present around the member to be coated may vary affected by airflow from the outside when the coated member is lifted up from the coating bath
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides an apparatus for producing an electrophotographic photosensitive member that has a coating machine for dipping plural members to be coated in a coating liquid in a coating bath and then lifting up the coated members to form a coating film on the surface of each of the plural members to be coated and a transport holding member for holding and transporting the members to be coated, and has plural stretching hoods which can individually cover each side of the plural members to be coated and can extend in association with the movement of the plural members to be coated to individually cover each side of the plural members to be coated when the coating machine is lifting up the plural members to be coated, wherein the plural stretching hoods are linked with each other at the lower parts of the hoods.